The key facts

  • Noni Madueke, who came on as a substitute after halftime, scored the winning goal in the 80th minute — a deflection off Jair Cuenca past goalkeeper Matz Sels.
  • This was Arsenal's only shot on target in the entire match; neither team hit the target in the first half.
  • Arsenal is second with 18 points, three points behind leaders Manchester City; Nottingham Forest is 18th with five points.

Single shot on target secured victory

Arsenal defeated Nottingham Forest 1-0 in an away match in the 7th round of the English Premier League. The winning goal was scored by Noni Madueke, who came on as a substitute after halftime replacing Eberechi Eze. According to Anadolu, the first half passed without a single shot on target from either side: Arsenal had possession but failed to break through the disciplined defense of the hosts. Forest had chances through Dan Ndoye in the 19th minute and Murillo after a corner, while Kai Havertz headed over the crossbar in the 37th minute following a free kick by Declan Rice.

Goal in the 80th minute and a save in stoppage time

In the second half, Rice missed Arsenal's best chance in the 72nd minute, shooting over the crossbar from inside the box after a pass from Jurrien Timber. In the 80th minute, Madueke beat Daniel Munoz, and his right-footed shot deflected off Jair Cuenca, going past goalkeeper Matz Sels. According to AFP, Madueke delivered a powerful strike from the left flank that deflected past Sels. In stoppage time, Forest nearly equalized: Murillo shot just over the crossbar, and Ezri Konsa blocked a shot by Liam Delap, who was breaking through one-on-one with goalkeeper David Raya at the last moment. According to Anadolu, Madueke's goal was Arsenal's only shot on target in the match.

Arteta praised the substitutes

Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta emphasized the role of the substitutes after the match: 'We had to scrape out the result until the last second. They are a well-trained team that is difficult to break down. We had to take risks; they are a dangerous team,' he said, adding: 'We managed the emotional part well. We maintained concentration, and the substitutes had a huge impact.' According to AFP, besides Madueke, Arteta also brought on Mikel Merino, Viktor Gyokeres, and Jurrien Timber. 'Noni, Jurrien, Mikel were excellent when they came on, and Viktor really changed the game — all of them, and that is what we need,' the coach noted.

League standings and a tight schedule

The victory lifted Arsenal to second place with 18 points, three points behind leaders Manchester City. Nottingham Forest remained in the relegation zone in 18th place with five points. Following an unexpected 0-3 defeat to Brighton on September 19, according to AFP, Arsenal has won three consecutive matches; this was their sixth win in seven league games. The team is playing a tight schedule: midweek they defeated Lille in the Champions League, and on Wednesday they face an away match against Bayern Munich. 'Some of them played three days ago, and some will play in the next game, and they know everyone must be ready,' Arteta said regarding squad rotation.